Nash Is 'Symptom Free,' but Won't Rush Return to Rangers

'So Far, It Has Been Good,' Nash Said

By

Dave Caldwell

Updated Nov. 12, 2013 10:03 p.m. ET

Alain Vigneault, the Rangers' first-year coach, had a medical update late Tuesday afternoon on Rick Nash, the team's concussed star forward. This time, Vigneault didn't have to defer to a team spokesman and no one had to drag it out of him. He was actually perky.

"He's going to practice tomorrow," Vigneault said before the Rangers took on the archrival Devils at Madison Square Garden. "Isn't that the news you wanted to hear today?"

Even though the Rangers (9-9-0) have been playing much better lately, winning six of eight games after Tuesday's matchup with the Devils (6-7-5), fans who know how to sing along with the Rangers' goal song are sure to welcome the upbeat news about Nash.

ENLARGE

The Rangers have not set a timetable for the return of concussed forward Rick Nash, who was injured Oct. 8 against San Jose.
Getty Images

He skated for the fourth straight day on Tuesday morning, a sparsely attended optional morning skate at the Garden. Nash said after the session that he was "symptom free," but refused to peer further into the future than Tuesday afternoon.

Apparently, he was fine. Vigneault said he was told Nash would practice with the team Wednesday.

Nash is likely to resume skating as an eighth defenseman before being eased onto a forward line later, Vigneault said.

The Rangers have set no timetable for Nash to return to game action. The right winger, who missed his 15th game Tuesday night, was injured Oct. 8 when he was hit by San Jose defenseman Brad Stuart, who was subsequently suspended three games by the National Hockey League.

"With concussions, you never know," Vigneault said. "He's made some big strides, and hopefully, on a daily basis, he'll continue to make big strides."

Nash was hurt in the third game of a nine-game road trip during which the Rangers posted only three wins, and they have had to scramble merely to get to the .500 mark. Nash was asked Tuesday if he could afford to take his time because of the Rangers' reversal of fortune.

"When you look at it, New York has a lot invested in me, and I've invested a lot in them," said Nash, who is to be paid $7.8 million each year through the 2017-18 season. "So I think even if we were losing, it would be stupid for me to rush back just because of that. It's a long-term contract, and we have to make sure, for both sides, I come back 110% and ready to play."

Nash said he visited Dr. Jeffrey Scott Kutcher, a neurologist in Michigan, in mid-October. Kutcher told Nash then that he thought he was capable of recovering fully without any long-term effects. Nash said he consults with a team of doctors and trainers daily.

The Rangers have resumed scoring goals after a slow start—they entered Tuesday ranked 24th in the league in scoring, averaging 2.29 goals a game—but still will be thrilled to see Nash come back. He scored 21 goals in 44 games last season.

"Everybody's been great, and everybody's been on the same page," Nash said. "At the end of the day, we all want the same goal: for the team to win, and for me to be a piece of it."

The Rangers don't play again until Saturday, when they travel to Montreal. Nash sounded as if he might need more than just a few days before he is fit enough to play in a game.

Asked how he felt after Tuesday's workout, he smiled and said, "Little slow. Little out of shape. The important part is that I feel good otherwise."

Although the Rangers are without their most prolific scorer, Vigneault said his team is "about where I expected," adding, "We're trying to get better, we are getting better and we will continue to get better."

Vigneault won't push Nash, though he sounded as if he would push himself, to a point.

"Just kind of push myself more and more and see if any symptoms come from it," Nash said. "So far, it has been good."

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